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“We are going to evaluate everything after today,” Malzahn said. “Every position. We have to get better, and it ain’t just him. It’s all positions.”

Malzahn made it clear throughout his short post-game remarks that the offense’s performance, specifically in the first half, was unacceptable. He used words like “awful” and “horrible” to describe the lack of production from an offense that came into the season with high expectations.

“We were out of sync,” Malzahn said. “Everything was out of sync in the first half.”

Auburn went into halftime with less than half the yards, 70, as LSU running back Leonard Fournette had by himself (169). The offense was 2 of 6 on third downs, and only had six first downs.

“We gave the defense no hope,” Johnson said, echoing his coach’s own words.

Johnson was 11 of 19 for 100 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He ran the ball 12 times for 41 yards with a touchdown, and was sacked five times.

It was his sixth interception of the season, and he added a seventh turnover when he fumbled in the third quarter.

Malzahn said the coaching staff didn’t really discuss replacing Johnson at halftime, “we were trying to figure out how to move the football and score some points,” but those discussions could become more prevalent this week.

Johnson wasn’t bothered by Malzahn’s comments.

“You have to prove yourself each and every practice,” Johnson said.

He said he wouldn’t have been upset if he was pulled from the game, and claims his confidence hasn’t taken a hit.

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“I’m still very confident, I know it’s going to click, we are going to click as a team and good things are going to happen for us,” Johnson said. “It’s what we preach on as a team, no matter what we go through we are going to stick together.”

War Eagle Extra

Jordan D. Hill has covered high schools and athletes in the Bi-City area for the Ledger-Enquirer since January 2017. Prior to coming to Columbus, Hill was a freelancer for The Macon Telegraph and an intern for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A native of Jasper, Georgia, Hill is a graduate of Pickens High School and the University of Georgia.